Can-opener.



R. FRANKENv GANOPIEIIEl'.i

M PLICATION FILED MAY 2o, 190s.

961,946. Patented June 21, 1910.

Cri

ROBERT rammen; orLos ANGELES, eALrronNz-i, Assrenon 'ro e. 'Erwin' Arpnnson, or Dinand cmiironnia.

CAN-OPENER.

To all whmn'fitmay concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and `useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of

which the following isa specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in can openers, and a mainlobject thereof` is to provide a cutting -bladeof a novel configuration, may be removed from a can without injury to the contents thereof.

Another object is to providev a device that will enable the operato-r to form a shearing cut close'to the vertical inner wall of the can, so as to facilitate the `removal ofthe contents in an uninjured state.

A further object is to provide a device that is simple' in construction, eiiicient in operation, and that will not injure a person during the operation thereot'haccomplish these objects bymeans of the device described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l-is a erspective view of the can opener operative y applied toja can. Fig. Q-"is a top wardly, as bestilliistra,ted in Fig. 1 vof the drawings. 'The upper edge 8 of this bill is Lformed in a cutting edge, and the lower edge terminates in a semi-circular notch 9 that forms' with the upper 'edge l() of the can 11, a `fulcrum during the cutting operation. The bill or piercing point '7 is bent outwardl therewith, and' that portion of the bill` on which the cutting edge is formed ilares inwardly from the notch 9 toward the extreme point, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 FRANnE, a l

Vedge whereby the sealed top body yo plan view of the opener, illustrating'the position of the opening prior to 6, preferably formed of from" the shank .6 at its juncture Speeiiication of Letters Patent. Ptetd June. 2j. 191?.` Application filed May 20, 190%. Serial No..433, 873. l

of the drawings. The bill also flares transversely from the cutting edge to the lower 12, as best illustrated in Fig. 3,-the purpose ,being to bring the cutting edge Vinto close proximity to the inner vertical wall of the can, so that the top may be entirely removed therefrom, leaving a clear iipturnedv and smooth edge. A

The lower outer portion 14 of the shank lies in avpaifallel plane with the body thereto, and is adapted to contact with the outer vertical walls of the can when in operation to form a bearing, and at the same time to force the cutting blade towardy theup er edge of the vertical wall of the earn y flaring the'cutting blade or bill in both a longitudinal land vtransverse direction and formin the bearing 14 parallelwith the the shank, an operator is enabled without special skill to forni the cii't inthe cantop close to thevertical wall of the can, which is extremely essential` when ,it isde- Isired to remove the eontents in an unin- `jured condition. It will be observed that as the outer portion ofthe slianfk, which forms -the bill or piercing point extends upwardly and beyond the upper edge of the shank,

that the hand of the operator will lie below the fulcruni point, thus enabling the operator to maintain-the enti/ing blade in close proximity to the edge of thevertical wall et tlieran, and at the sameftiine providing an increased leverage on thie blade itself.

l The lower portion of the outer end of the shank is formed into a hook 15, thus adapting it for use as a bottle sealextractor, as clearly shown in Fig. i of the drawingskand providing at the saine time, a means of suspension for the opener when not inuse.'l

It will be apparent from the foregoing have provided a can' opener, wherebyv the top may be removed from the-can without tearing the metal or injuring the contents thereof.

Having described my invention what I claim as new yand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:- l

1. A can opener, comprising a single piece of I'lat metal terminating at the outer end thereof in a plurality ot arms' Vdisposed-in di ier'ent vertical planes one above another, the upper arm being forined-into a piercing bill and the upper edge of the bill forme into a cutting edge, -aid from the body of the blade at its description that VI point of juncture therewitlnthe bill also being flared or inclined from the vertical inwardly from i its lower to its cutting edge, the lower of said arms adapted to form a bearing against the outer vertical wall ot tlie can and to guide the cutting edge of the bill against another in different vertica planes, the upper of said arms being formed into alcanpiercing point having a cutting edge, and the lower of said arms adapted to contact rwith tlie outer vertical wall of the can during a cutting operation, the upper arin being otlset in a direction transverse to the plane of the shank, whereby to provide space for the insertion of the vertical wall of the can when operating the opener.

3. A can opener, comprising a flat inetallicshank and a handle therefor, the outer l end'of the shank terminating in a plurality i oi arms vertically disposed one above. an-

I other andA lying in different planes, the up- .o per of said arms being formed into a cutting nlade and the lower of said arms forming a guide for the up er armduring a cutting operation, and a iiilcrurn bearing formed at the juncture of the two arms.

l. A can opener, .comprising a flat inetallic shank and a handle therefor, the outer end of said shankterminating in two arins disposed in vertical planes one aboije another and lying in diterent parallel planes, the upper of said arms being formed* into a cutting blade and the lower of said arins bearing against the outer wall of the can and guiding the upper arm during acutting operation.

5. A can opener, comprising a flat inetallic shank and a handle therefor, the outer end of said shank terininatingsin two arins disposed in a vertical plane oneabove another, the upper oi said arms beinv formed into a cutting blade, and being oset in a parallel plane from the lower of said arms the lower of said arms forming a guide for the upper arm during a cutting operation.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT FRANKEN.

ll'itnesses:

J. A. Caocneiz, Citas. H. Banners. 

